Install good winter tires - Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions. However, some jurisdictions require that to drive on their roads, vehicles must be equipped with chains or snow tires with studs.
All season radials are useless in winter in cold weather climates. People think they're OK with them but their performance in really cold weather is absolutely not what it's cracked up to be.
If someone lives in a climate that gets cold winters (like NY) they need SNOW tires.
There is a difference in the composition of the rubber the tire is made of and the tread pattern.
We have all-seasons for spring, summer, and fall, and snow tires for winter.
Also, as buy them on rims so that there is no need to take the tire on and off the rim, as it destroys the beading of the tire and the tire becomes useless from broken beading well before the tire wears out.
Additionally, in the long run, it is cheaper to do it that way. When you consider the cost of having a mechanic change the tires, the rims pay for themselves after the second or third change. And you can do it yourself, on your schedule, saving even more money. People don't think ahead about getting their snow tires on and it's impossible to find a mechanic to do it on short notice when that first winter storm hits.
The snow tires we've been using for YEARS now is Hankook iPikes. We tried a set one year and were so impressed with them that that is all we use now. We've put them on six cars over the years and they have not disappointed. Friends we recommend them to love them as well. They'll go through almost any amount of snow without sliding.
Those people who own four wheel drive cars should also be using snow tires. The mentality is that with four wheel drive, you can go through anything in the winter and that is not true, unless you have snow tires on. Four wheel drive in regular tires of all-seasons will slide and/or spin out just like anything else. I've seen more than enough four wheel drive vehicles in the medians on the interstate because the drivers think they're invincible with their fancy four wheel drive SUVs.
Put snow tires on that four wheel drive and you can go through ANYTHING.
Been there, done that. I have a four wheel drive vehicle and use the iPikes and do not slide no matter what the conditions (except ice which I will NEVER drive on. Ever)
If there's ice, I don't go out. Period. Anything else is fair game, no matter what the snow depth.